The Three Kingdoms: The Oath of the Peach Garden, the Rise of the Han Dynasty

Zhang Rang bent down at the opportune moment:

"Your Majesty is wise. Liu Bei comes from the imperial clan, has both military achievements and knows when to advance and retreat, making him a hundred times better than those border generals who only know how to ask for food and money."

Lu Zhi besieged Guangzong for three months without success, so Liu Bei single-handedly beheaded Zhang Bao. In my humble opinion, Your Majesty should rely more on your own relatives when employing people.”

Liu Hong nodded repeatedly: "Well said! Convey my decree..."

He paused for a moment, considering his words.

Liu Bei was promoted to Cavalry Commandant. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun were each promoted to Separate Division Commander and Military Commander, respectively.

The strategist, Li Chang, was appointed as a junior officer.

The remaining generals were to be rewarded and appointed by Liu Bei himself.

Liu Hong waved his hand and said, "Add another 100 catties of gold and 200 bolts of brocade. Double the amount from last time."

"This old servant obeys the decree." Zhang Rang bowed and accepted the order, but secretly marveled at it.

He had served Liu Hong for many years, but this Liu Bei was the only one who always received a reward of real money every time he reported a victory, even waiving the money to buy an official position!

On the one hand, Liu Bei was indeed a capable fighter with impressive military achievements.

On the other hand, after Zuo Feng returned from that mission, he didn't say a bad word about Liu Bei. Instead, he unintentionally mentioned a couple of good things about Liu Bei.

These words, secretly relayed to Liu Hong's ears, were more effective than a hundred "loyal and devoted" pronouncements.

Zhang Rang certainly knew why Zuo Feng said that.

What's remarkable is that they give generously, know the proper etiquette, and don't make any demands after giving!

This kind of "sensibleness" was rarer than gold itself in the officialdom at that time.

Since Liu Bei is sensible, Zhang Rang doesn't mind lending a hand.

He helped Liu Bei clear his name regarding Lu Zhi's teacher-student relationship, suppressed Zuo Feng's attempt to stop the prison cart, and even with this imperial decree of reward, he didn't secretly withhold any of it as he usually did.

It wasn't because he was kind-hearted, but because he judged Liu Bei to be a person worth supporting.

Having served Emperor Ling for many years, he knew that military generals who knew how to spend money on eunuchs were far easier to get along with and more valuable for long-term cooperation than scholar-officials who only knew how to criticize the eunuch faction!

A royal general who is good at fighting, good at interpersonal relationships, and doesn't cause trouble is extremely rare!

"Zhang Rang," Liu Hong suddenly spoke again, his tone casual as if in a casual conversation, "what do you think should be done with Liu Bei after the Yellow Turban Rebellion is quelled?"

Zhang Rang felt a chill run down his spine.

This seemingly unintentional remark was actually a probe into his attitude and a preliminary assessment of Liu Bei's future.

He considered it for a moment, then replied with a smile:

"Your Majesty, the Yellow Turban Rebellion has not yet been quelled, and we still need capable men. Liu Bei is a capable fighter, so let him continue fighting on the front lines. Once the world is at peace, Your Majesty can settle him however you wish. Members of the imperial clan are always more trustworthy than outsiders."

Liu Hong nodded in satisfaction: "That's right. Go and draft the decree."

"This old servant obeys the decree."

Zhang Rang carried the report of victory out of the main hall and walked through the long palace corridor.

Liu Hong's decree was delivered to the Ministry of Personnel.

The Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat naturally wouldn't have a pleasant look towards these eunuchs who delivered imperial edicts.

They don't even want to draft this decree!

But when they opened it, they exclaimed, "Hmm, Liu? A member of the imperial family?"

"Wait, Liu Bei? Liu Xuande? Isn't that Zigan Gong's disciple?"

"I've heard he respects his teachers and is a skilled warrior!"

"Excellent, excellent, this definitely isn't a member of the eunuch faction!"

"Quickly, draft an imperial edict!"

……

half a month later.

The imperial edict of bestowal and rewards from the Luoyang court has been delivered to the Yanzhou camp by fast horse, traveling day and night.

On this day, Liu Bei and Cao Cao led their troops to wipe out a remnant of the Yellow Turban Rebellion around Dongjun.

Upon returning to the camp, they found the imperial eunuch, accompanied by his entourage, already waiting at the camp gate.

Liu Bei immediately ordered an incense table to be set up and led his generals to receive the imperial decree.

The eunuch delivering the imperial edict took out the decree from the black bag containing the edict.

In a high-pitched voice, he read aloud to the public:

Imperial Edict

Po Lu Xiaowei Bei:

You fought in the provinces of You and Ji, repeatedly achieving military exploits, including beheading Zhang Bao and recapturing Quyang, your prestige shaking the Yellow Turban tribes. Now you are promoted to Cavalry Commandant and awarded 100 catties of gold and 200 bolts of brocade.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were appointed as separate commanders.

Li Chang was appointed as Attendant Gentleman of the Palace, in charge of all military planning matters;

"You shall determine the ranks and rewards of your officers and soldiers, regardless of their merits."

"Your subject Liu Bei kowtows to express his gratitude for Your Majesty's great favor!"

Everyone kowtowed and stood up, their faces beaming with joy.

Liu Bei has risen from a commoner to a formal cavalry captain in the imperial court in just half a year since he raised his army. Such a speed of promotion is extremely rare in the current chaotic world!

Cao Cao stood at the back of the crowd, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

After years of fighting and experiencing many ups and downs, I finally rose to the rank of Cavalry Commandant. Liu Bei, however, achieved the same rank as me in just a few months.

His lifelong wish was to achieve great deeds and be ennobled as a marquis or general, but now he suddenly realized that this path was far more difficult than he had imagined.

Looking westward, when will I be able to become the General Who Conquers the West of the Great Han Dynasty?

As Cao Cao's gaze shifted, he happened to see Li Chang take advantage of the chaos of everyone bowing and walk to the side of the imperial eunuch, discreetly handing him a heavy money bag!

The eunuch weighed the item in his hand, his face immediately plastered with a fawning smile. He leaned close to Li Chang's ear and whispered a few words before calmly leaving with his entourage.

Cao Cao's smile vanished instantly, and his brows furrowed tightly.

Okay, okay, so this is how you got promoted?

His grandfather, Cao Teng, served four emperors and wielded immense power in the palace. It was precisely because of this family background of eunuchs that Cao Cao bore the criticism of being "the descendant of a eunuch" from a young age and suffered the cold looks of the world!

Throughout his life, he wanted to break free from the shackles of his birth and establish himself in the court based on his own talent and hard work. He detested eunuchs interfering in politics and power, and he also disapproved of the behavior of court officials who curried favor with the eunuch faction and bribed officials to obtain positions!

Li Chang's actions of secretly befriending eunuchs and giving gifts in secret aroused resentment in Cao Cao's heart.

Originally, I thought Li Chang was exceptionally talented and of noble character, but I never expected him to stoop to flattering the eunuchs in the palace!

Bah! I, Cao Cao, am ashamed to associate with you!

But then, recalling the rules of the court in that chaotic era, he felt relieved.

If an official or commander refuses to bribe powerful figures in the palace, he will not only fail to get promoted, but he will also have difficulty protecting his own life and the safety of his troops.

Zigan Gong was upright and refused bribes from eunuchs, ultimately suffering the fate of being dismissed from his post and escorted back to the capital in a cage. This serves as the best cautionary tale.

Li Chang's actions were not for his own selfish gain, but rather to secure a stable future for Liu Bei and for this newly formed army.

Cao Cao stood still, not moving an inch for a long time.

Sunlight bathed him, yet it couldn't dispel the turmoil in his heart. It seemed for the first time he truly understood that within the Han Dynasty, there was no absolute right or wrong!

But what if I had honestly become the descendant of a eunuch? Perhaps I would have a higher official position now?

Not far away, Li Chang seemed to notice Cao Cao's gaze, turned his head to look at him, and smiled gently.

There was absolutely no awkwardness of being discovered!

Cao Cao smiled faintly, without the embarrassment of being caught discovering someone else's little secret.

The news shocked the entire military camp.

Even Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun, who had requested the attack, did not expect that the rewards would arrive so quickly!

They were all prepared for Liu Bei to be completely buried and implicated!

Those generals without family connections also began to consider whether they should associate with Liu Bei, not seeking promotion, but only hoping to be remembered by the emperor.

Those with family connections, besides secretly cursing Liu Bei's good fortune, also began to try to win him over.

In an instant, Liu Bei became incredibly popular again.